The established credit raters were criticized for inflating the mortgage credit bubble that imploded in 2008. A new rating agency, KBRA, is considering how to capitalize on the opportunity this presents and how to enter the industry. A small group of managers have to decide on a business model, how to meet hiring and funding needs, and what types of ratings to start with: municipal, corporate, or structured. Where are the needs for new ratings stronger? How can investors be convinced to use the new ratings? How can KBRA compete with Fitch, Moody's, and S&P?

High yield bond fund Proventus Capital Partners (PCP) has invested in underwater bonds issued by Preem, a large oil refinery. As maturity approaches, in the midst of financial crisis, Preem appear unlikely to be able to refinance. Meanwhile, Prreem has a complicated multi-currency capital structure with both senior, secured bank loans and junior bonds. PCP has to decide whether to push for bankruptcy in a European court, or to push for out of court renegotiations. The case is a tool for studying the difference between liquidity problems and solvency problems, weighing bankruptcy vs. out of court restructuring, and dealing with negotiations between creditors.